Depression is a highly prevalent and seriously impairing disorder. Evidence suggests that music therapy can decrease depression, though the music therapy that is offered is often not clearly described in studies. The purpose of this study was to develop an improvisational music therapy intervention based on insights from theory, evidence and clinical practice for young adults with depressive symptoms. The Intervention Mapping method was used and resulted in (1) a model to explain how emotion dysregulation may affect depressive symptoms using the Component Process Model (CPM) as a theoretical framework; (2) a model to clarify as to how improvisational music therapy may change depressive symptoms using synchronisation and emotional resonance; (3) a prototype Emotion-regulating Improvisational Music Therapy for Preventing Depressive symptoms (EIMT-PD); (4) a ten-session improvisational music therapy manual aimed at improving emotion regulation and reducing depressive symptoms; (5) a program implementation plan; and (6) a summary of a multiple baseline study protocol to evaluate the effectiveness and principles of EIMT-PD. EIMT-PD, using synchronisation and emotional resonance may be a promising music therapy to improve emotion regulation and, in line with our expectations, reduce depressive symptoms. More research is needed to assess its effectiveness and principles.
Background The Self-Expression Emotion Regulation in Art Therapy Scale (SERATS) was developed as art therapy lacked outcome measures that could be used to monitor the specific effects of art therapy. Although the SERATS showed good psychometric properties in earlier studies, it lacked convergent validity and thus construct validity. Method To test the convergent validity of the SERATS correlation was examined with the EES (Emotional Expressivity Scale), Emotion Regulation Strategies for Artistic Creative Activities Scale (ERS-ACA) and Healthy-Unhealthy Music Scale (HUMS). Patients diagnosed with a Personality Disorder, and thus having self-regulation and emotion regulation problems (n = 179) and a healthy student population (n = 53) completed the questionnaires (N = 232). Results The SERATS showed a high reliability and convergent validity in relation to the ERS-ACA approach strategies and self-development strategies in both patients and students and the HUMS healthy scale, in patients. Hence, what the SERATS measures is highly associated with emotion regulation strategies like acceptance, reappraisal, discharge and problem solving and with improving a sense of self including self-identity, increased self-esteem and improved agency as well as the healthy side of art making. Respondents rated the SERATS as relatively easy to complete compared to the other questionnaires. Conclusion The SERATS is a valid, useful and user-friendly tool for monitoring the effect of art therapy that is indicative of making art in a healthy way that serves positive emotion regulation and self-development.
Research showed that more than 30% of patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) do not benefit from evidence- based treatments: Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). These are patients with prolonged and multiple traumatization, with poor verbal memory, and patients with emotional over-modulation. Retelling traumatic experiences in detail is poorly tolerated by these patients and might be a reason for not starting or not completing the recommended treatments. Due to lack of evidence, no alternative treatments are recommended yet. Art therapy may offer an alternative and suitable treatment, because the nonverbal and experiential character of art therapy appears to be an appropriate approach to the often wordless and visual nature of traumatic memories. The objective of this pilot study was to test the acceptability, feasibility, and applicability of trauma-focused art therapy for adults with PTSD due to multiple and prolonged traumatization (patients with early childhood traumatization and refugees from different cultures). Another objective was to identify the preliminary effectiveness of art therapy. Results showed willingness to participate and adherence to treatment of patients. Therapists considered trauma-focused art therapy feasible and applicable and patients reported beneficial effects, such as more relaxation, externalization of memories and emotions into artwork, less intrusive thoughts of traumatic experiences and more confidence in the future. The preliminary findings on PTSD symptom severity showed a decrease of symptoms in some participants, and an increase of symptoms in other participants. Further research into the effectiveness of art therapy and PTSD is needed.
Door COVID-19 hebben professionals in de geestelijke gezondheidszorg gemerkt dat online kunnen werken van belang is voor het bieden van continuïteit van zorg. Online therapie geven lijkt in de toekomst niet meer weg te denken. Uit een enquête onder vaktherapeuten (maart, 2020, N = 281) bleek dat vaktherapeuten zich onvoldoende bekwaam voelen om online vaktherapie te kunnen aanbieden; 91% van hen geeft aan `helemaal/ bijna geen’ ervaring te hebben met online werken. Ook missen zij voor hen geschikte digitale tools. Een eerste pilottraining in online vaktherapie bieden, ontwikkeld in een eerder project van slechts drie maanden, liet zien dat vaktherapeuten op deze manier hun kennis en vaardigheden kunnen vergroten. De vaktherapeuten werden vaardiger en ontwikkelden kennis. Tegelijkertijd werd duidelijk dat zowel de methodiek als het prototype van de virtuele multi-player vaktherapieruimte waarin ervaringsgericht gewerkt kan worden verder doorontwikkeld zou moeten worden. Uniek aan deze VR-therapieruimte is dat de cliënt vanuit zijn eigen huis aan de therapie kan deelnemen en de therapeut tegelijkertijd in dezelfde VR-ruimte aanwezig is. Deze kan zo zijn specifieke interventies op afstand toepassen. Tot nu toe zijn er enkel VR-interventies bekend in de internationale literatuur waarbij de cliënt in een VR ruimte oefent, terwijl de therapeut vanaf buiten de techniek verzorgt. Door te werken in de VR-vaktherapieruimte kunnen vaktherapeuten continuïteit van behandeling bieden, zeker in tijden waarin mogelijkheden beperkt worden en cliënten het extra nodig hebben.
